Cibcttit-intebbtrpteb for traffic-signals



O. FREYTAG. CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

APPLECATION FILED MAY 11. 1917.

Patented June 3, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

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0. FREYTAG.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1911.

1,305,649. Patentd June 3, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

. OTTO'FREYTAG, or BOISE, mmo.

GIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER FOR TRAFFIC-SIGNALS.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

' Application filed Kay 11, 1917. Serial No. 168,038.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LOTTO FREYTAG, c1t1zen of the United States, residingat Boise, in the county of Ada and State of Idaho, have invented certainnew and useful Im rovements in Circuit-Interrupters for raffic- Signals,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to traffic and warning signals for motor vehicles,and has for its object the provision of a mechanical driven device forthe purpose of making and breaking the electrical circuit at shortintervals for use in connection with the different warning signals. 7

With this and other objects in view, my invention consists of certainnovel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is ageneral view of my device, showing an arrangement for itsoperation through the speedometer shaft.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the mechanism, and electricalcircuits, both sides of the device being set for the intermittentsignaling operation.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view, both sides of the devicebeing set for continuous front lighting.

Fig. 4 is a sectional top plan view on lines 4-4 of Figs. 5 and 6, oneside being ar ranged for intermittent signaling, the other forcontinuous lighting.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, themechanism being set for intermittent signaling.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing themechanism set for continuous lighting.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the contact spring for thesignaling horn.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the speedometershaft, which is connected to the speedometer, diagrammatically shown at2. The mechanism of my device is inclosed in a suitable casing 3provided with. a cover 4, attached as shown, and I held by screw 5.

Upon the shaft 1 is mounted a rotor 6, of insulating material, providedwith a plurality of suitable strips or bars 7, connected at their ends,as shown at 8, Figs. 4 and 6. The rotor '6, is, as will be understood,constantly in rotation, through the medium of shaft 1. Disposed abovethe rotor 6, there are, in this embodiment of my invention, six metallicstrips 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, through which the electrical circuit ismade to the lights and signaling horn. The strips 10 and 13 are attachedto the cover of the mechanism and the strips 9, 11, .12 and 14 areattached to the base of the same, and suitably insulated. All stripshave a springing action toward the rotor. Mounted below the rotor anddirectly underneath the strips 10 and 13 are contact springs 15 and 16,designed to electrically connect the circuit with the signaling horn,said springs being provided with contact points 17 and insulatingabutments 17', to receive the thrust of the control mechanisms,indicated generally at 18. Mounted upon the casing 3 are guide lugs 19,through which slide rods 20, designed to cause the springs 15 and 16 tomake contact,

at the proper moment, with the rotor, to operate the signaling horn.These rods 20 are rigidly attached to parts 21, which are also held inguides 22 of the casing 3. Mounted upon the reduced ends of parts 21,are cams of insulating material 23 and 24, designed to raise or lowerthe strips 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14; the said cams being held by nuts 25as shown. The control of cams 23 and 24, as well as rods 20, is madethrough wires 26 and 27, their ends 28 being held by a screw 29 in theparts 21 and being suitably guided by wire coils shown at 30; thesecoils 30 are held by screws 31 in the guides 22, as well as in sockets32, which sockets are mounted on the steering wheels. At the ends 33 theWires 26 and 27 are provided with push-buttons 34 and 35 for operatingthe said mechanisms. On the upper sides of the strips 10 and 13 aremounted contacts 36 and 37, which make connection with similar contacts38 and 39 mounted on the cover 4.

The usual front lights 40 and 41, as well asthe usual tail light42, areprovided, and two additional signaling tail lights 44 and 45. Thesignaling horn is shown at 46.

Referring to the drawings in general and to Figs. 2 and 3 in particular,the operation of my invention is as follows:

For convenience of illustration, Fig. 2 shows the invention set forsignaling by means of the front lights 40 and 41 and tail lights 44 and45, both buttons 26 and 27 having been ushed by the operator. In thisinstance, he current starting from bat and connection to headlight 41;through strip 12 and connection 54 to tail light 45. The battery, lightsand horn are grounded at 56. The usual tail light receives its circuitthrough connection 42. \Vhen the operator further pushes the buttons 26and,27 and the part 20 thrusts the contacts of the springs 15 and 16into contact with the rotor bars 7, the horn 46 is operated, the currentpassing from battery 47, connections 48, 49

and 50, strips 10 and 13, bars 7, their con-"' nections 8, springs 15and 16 and connectio ps 57 to horn 46.

In Fig. 3, the lights 40 and 41 and the usual tail light only, areoperating in the ordinary manner to give a continuous light. The horn 46and signaling tail lights 44 and 45 are not in operation. Strips 9, 10,11, 12, 13 and 14 are raised through the action of springs 58, abuttinglugs 19 and cams 23 and 24, said springs acting to press the cams intocontact with the strips (see Fig. 6), thereby interrupting their circuitwith the rotor. I

It will be understood that either side of the mechanism may be operatedseparately by making the suitable contacts, by means of pressure onbuttons. 34 and 35, according as the operator wishes to signal on theright or left side. Suitable switches are provided at points 60, 61, 62and 63. Switches 60 and 61 make or break the circuit of the lights 40and 41 respectively; switch 62 controls the circuit through the horn,and 63,

vice comprising a support, a rotor carried.

by said support, a primary spring fastened near one end of said supportand extending across said rotor, an auxiliary spring fastened near oneend and secured contiguous to said rotor and under said primary spring,guide means on said support and contiguous to said auxiliary spring, cammeans slidably mounted upon said support and normally engaging saidprimary spring, a plunger extending through said cam means andpositioned in said guide means, said plunger adapted to engage and forcesaid auxiliary spring into contact ,with said rotor, said cam meanspermitting the primary spring to engage said rotor when said plunger isholding said auxiliary spring in contact with the rotor, aspring-surrounding said plunger and engaging said guide means and saidcam means and normally allowing said primary spring to be out ofengagement with said rotor, said rotor provided with insulated metallicportions, and said metallic portions being electrically connected attheir ends, whereby an interrupted current is permitted to flow throughthe primary and auxiliary springs when the plunger and cam means are intheir innermost position upon the support.

OTTO FREYTAG.

